HX/UO | Hong Kong Airlines/Hong Kong Express Airways

[Shezan]

thank you, HKSkyline

[hkskyline]

Hong Kong Airlines orders 6 Airbus A330-200 planes
4 February 2010

SINGAPORE (AP) - Hong Kong Airlines said Thursday it ordered six Airbus A330-200 airplanes as part of an expansion into long-haul routes to the Middle East and Europe.

The airline said in a statement it now has a total of 23 A330 planes and 30 A320s on order from Airbus, the world's largest aircraft maker. The carrier didn't say how much the six planes would cost.

Airbus, a unit of EADS, said on Wednesday at the Singapore Airshow that Asia will need about 8,000 planes costing $1.2 trillion by 2028.

Passenger numbers in the region will likely grow an annual average of 5.9 percent during the next 20 years, overtaking the U.S. and Europe to become the largest air transport market.

[hkskyline]

Hong Kong Airlines to order six A330-200s
4 February 2010
Airbus Press Release

Hong Kong Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for six A330-200 aircraft. The latest commitment will increase the number of A330s ordered by the airline to 23. Hong Kong Airlines intends to use the A330-200s to develop new services to destinations across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to the Middle East and Europe.

"The A330-200 offers the perfect range and size capability to enable us to expand into new medium and long haul markets," said Yang Jian Hong, President, Hong Kong Airlines. "With these aircraft in our fleet we are aiming to create new standards in comfort and service and to establish our company as a premium brand in new international markets."

"This latest commitment from Hong Kong Airlines underscores once again the popularity of the A330 as the right aircraft right now for quality airlines across the world," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. "The A330 remains the most efficient aircraft in its size category flying today, providing airlines with the ability to maximise profit potential on a wide range of operations."

Established in 2006, Hong Kong Airlines currently operates a full service network linking Hong Kong with destinations in mainland China and the Asian region. In addition to A330s, the carrier also has 30 single aisle A320 aircraft on firm order for future delivery.

The A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today. To date, Airbus has won more than 1,050 orders for the various versions of the aircraft. More than 660 A330s have already been delivered and the aircraft is currently flying with over 70 airlines worldwide.

[hkskyline]

Hong Kong Airlines to launch its first long-haul route to Moscow with Airbus A330-200 in June
Press Release
22 Mar 2010

Hong Kong Airlines will launch a scheduled passenger service between Hong Kong and Moscow, the capital and the most flourishing city of Russia, in June this year. The inauguration of this new long-haul route is a major milestone of the airline's aggressive expansion plan.

The four-times-a-week service to Moscow will be operated by a brand new Airbus A330-200 aircraft with both Business and Economy class services, offering extra comfort as well as enhanced in-flight entertainment to passengers from Russia as well as Hong Kong.

President of Hong Kong Airlines, Mr. Yang Jianghong said: “We are excited to operate this new route. As a Hong Kong based airline, we are dedicated to develop the city's tourism and economy. Together with our sister company Hong Kong Express, we provide a multi-destination travel opportunity to travelers from Moscow via Hong Kong to Mainland China and other destinations in Southeast Asia. ”

[Iggis]

Before they said they have changed it to 738, but then they wont be able to reach Moscow, finally 332, great

HX817 HKG1230 – 1750SVO 332 x246
HX816 SVO2035 – 1025+1HKG 332 x246

[hkskyline]

Airbus: Hong Kong Airlines Confirms Order For Six A330-200
7 April 2010

PARIS (Dow Jones)--European aircraft maker Airbus Wednesday said Hong Kong Airlines has confirmed an order for six A330-200s to start long range services in Europe.

MAIN FACTS:

- The contract firms up a Memorandum of Understanding announced during the Singapore Airshow earlier this year.

- Hong Kong Airlines now has a total of 23 A330s on order. The first of these will arrive in Hong Kong in the second quarter of this year and will initially be used on existing routes and later to launch the airline's first services to Europe.

- Airbus is a unit of European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. NV (EAD.FR)

[hkskyline]

HK Airlines to begin daily Shantou service
17 April 2010
SCMP

Hong Kong Airlines announced yesterday that it would start a new service between Hong Kong and Shantou at the end of April as it seeks to cash in on growing tourist and business traffic on the route.

The daily Boeing 737-800 service, with a two-class configuration of eight seats in the front and 154 in economy, will begin on April 30.

The 45-minute flight will be the shortest route operated by the carrier, according to the airline's spokeswoman Eva Chan. Travelling to Shantou by car from Hong Kong takes about four hours.

The service would target both tourist traffic and businesspeople, Chan said.

Shantou Tourism Board and Shantou Airport yesterday signed an agreement with Hong Kong Air to provide commercial and operational support for the new service. The Tourism Board will help promote the service with businessman in Shantou and Shantou Airport would provide ground handling services, the company said.

Hong Kong Air and its sister company Hong Kong Express, which share the same parent, HNA Group, operate in more than 20 Asian and mainland cities with seven Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

The airline will take delivery of one more B737-800 in July and aims to expand its fleet to 23 in the near term. Hong Kong Air will also take deliver of an Airbus 330-200 in May, the first of six ordered by the carrier. The double-aisle aircraft will be deployed on the route between Hong Kong and Moscow from May 23.

Last month, mainland and Hong Kong regulators ordered safety checks for some B737 aircraft over suspected mechanical problems with their horizontal tails. Eight B737-800 and B737-300 aircraft operated by Hong Kong Air and Hong Kong Express Airways were checked.

[hkskyline]

Airline appeals wages conviction
24 April 2010
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong Airlines appealed yesterday against its conviction for failing to pay a general manager on time, for which it had been fined HK$24,000.

The company said there was reason to believe the man, who was also a pilot, had agreed to a cut in salary.

The airline was found to have committed four breaches of the Employment Ordinance by paying wages out of time.

The company failed to pay the pilot HK$13,000 per month on time from January to March last year and, after his employment had been terminated, another sum within seven days, as the ordinance says it must.

The court heard that the company had sent a letter inviting employees to take a voluntary salary reduction in January last year. The cut was to start that month.

In April, the pilot sent a letter to the human resources department saying he did not agree to the reduction. He left the company in May.

Appealing against the conviction in the Court of First Instance yesterday, the airline said there was reason to believe that, since the pilot was part of the airline's management, he had supported the salary cut.

However, the prosecution said the airline was obligated to give written notice of the salary cut and that the January letter had merely asked employees to consider - not accept - the proposal.

Mr Justice Pang Kin-kee reserved judgment.

[hkskyline]

[Iggis]

Thank you But prices that i have found in the internet, are just ridiculuous, or maybe its a journalist mistake...

[hkskyline]

Have you tried checking the airline's website? I see deeply discounted tours here to Moscow with HX.

[Iggis]

I couldnt find any price on the website at all, but in the internet it was mentioned as: Online bookings are not yet available but travel agents are offering Business Class return tickets at HK$44,040 (US$5,655) and Economy Class at HK$17,150 (US$2,202), so...this means its absurdity

[Aenelia]

Hong Kong Airlines will be flying to Brussels (Be) but cargo only :o

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by Iggis

I couldnt find any price on the website at all, but in the internet it was mentioned as: Online bookings are not yet available but travel agents are offering Business Class return tickets at HK$44,040 (US$5,655) and Economy Class at HK$17,150 (US$2,202), so...this means its absurdity

Wow .. this large travel agency is offering a 5-day tour including air and hotel and some meals for HKD 5999 + tax only.

http://www.hongthai.com/htpublic/TourItin/RDX05PRO.pdf

[Iggis]

Wow... thats soooo cheap!!! Even they include Holiday Inn accomodation. Just hotels here are quite expensive, so i should say ticket+acc.at HI+excursions for these money, absolutely great offer! Wish i could try the same from here to HKG )

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by Iggis

Wow... thats soooo cheap!!! Even they include Holiday Inn accomodation. Just hotels here are quite expensive, so i should say ticket+acc.at HI+excursions for these money, absolutely great offer! Wish i could try the same from here to HKG )

Yes, I was talking to my buddies to see if they wanted to make a quick trip to Moscow. Typically, the tours have costed double that (although a few more days with St. Petersburg) flying Aeroflot. We now can visit Russia visa-free so it's becoming a more popular destination. We also have tours now to Vladivostok and Harbin as well.

[hkskyline]

By civic1500 from a Hong Kong discussion forum :

[Iggis]

MY CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Hong Kong Airlines’ first Airbus A330-200 arrives Hong Kong

06 Jun 2010

The first Airbus A330-200 aircraft of Hong Kong Airlines had arrived Hong Kong International Airport on 5 June at 10am. Management had attended the ceremony to welcome our first wide-body aircraft with grateful greetings. The flight descended to North Runway and taxied into M10 area for a water salute arranged by Fire Services Department. It was parked at the South Parking Bay where the ceremony took place.

Adding this new member to the fleet is definitely an important milestone of the company’s aggressive expansion plan. From 30 June onwards, it will start operating the new long haul service between Hong Kong and Moscow.





http://www.hongkongairlines.com

[hkskyline]

By AirCanon from HKADB :

[hakz2007]

Hong Kong Airlines to launch Taipei route

The 2001-founded carrier Hong Kong Airlines announced Wednesday that it will launch flights to Taipei by the end of the year.

The announcement was made by the airlines' vice president Jung Kwok-chung in a press conference on its inauguration of Hong Kong-Moscow flights.

The current flight agreement between Taiwan and Hong Kong allows both sides to appoint three carriers to operate Taiwan-Hong Kong flights. Taiwan picked China Airlines, EVA Airways and Mandarin Airlines while Hong Kong chose Cathay Pacific, Dragonair and Air Hong Kong, with Air Hong Kong operating only cargo flights.

Hong Kong Airlines expressed willingness to join the group as the number of flights between the two locations have been reduced due to the impact of direct cross Taiwan Strait flights and the quotas of flights allowed are not met, said the Civil Aeronautics Administration.

A change of the flight agreement to lift the number limit for operating airlines is “very possible”, the CAA said.

http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=12717&sec=2